Jews extend Quran to Muslims

Jews extend Quran to Muslims
by Habeeb Alli

Toronto, Canada – I’m thrilled again this week to be part of history – while someone burns the Quran in the United States, another gifts us a Quran in an expression of solidarity. I told this to my congregation during this week’s Friday service and they were all so moved by the gesture.

For the eighth year, an exercise of interfaith exchange between Jews, Muslims and Christians in Ontario has progressed in good faith – and the gift of the Qur’an was this year’s highlight. The Abraham Festival in Peterborough originated on the premise that all three faiths have a common heritage and that needs to be explored and shared. Walking through the symbolic tent of Abraham in order to enter the St. Andrew's United Church gave attendees the sense that history can be relived, even in a modern day setting.

A Jewish partner, facilitator and doctor, who has been keen in bringing the three faiths together in Peterborough, Dr Dan Houpt, presented the Qur’an. He suggested the idea to his Muslim counterpart and co-founder Elizabeth Rahman, who consulted with the Canadian Council of Imams. Rahman is a convert from UK and has been active in the community ever since the 1970s, with her late Indian husband.

The Muslims Students Association at the nearby Trent University hosted the Friday service, on the first day of the festival, this year, in order for Christian and Jewish neighbours could observe the gifting of the Qur’an. Houpt offered some thoughts on the gift, stating , "It shows we stand with them in solidarity." He added, "And it shows it's a terrible act to burn a holy book."

I offered my gratitude and reminded the audience of about 80 people from the three faiths, that it is a tribute well received on behalf of all Muslims and that the desecration of any holy book is an attack on all Holy Scriptures. I also reminded them that this is in line with a historic Islamic tradition when the Moorish Averroes, Jewish Maimonides and Christian Thomas Aquinas learnt from each other in the twelfth century Spain of which even John Paul II recognized.

This year’s theme of the Abraham Festival was on forgiveness. Many facilitators were present to share what their faith offered on the subject of forgiving others. As I mentioned in my speech, "Forgiveness is an interesting topic because you often need it for people you love the most. The person you love the most can hurt you the most. And forgiveness lightens the burden."

The presentation of the Holy Quran to Muslims by the local Jewish community was a way to show goodwill and remove any misunderstanding and hurt Muslims may have experienced in today’s unfortunate atmosphere of Islamophobia – something Jews can relate to given their long years of dealing with anti-Semitism.

I also told them that recently a group of Jewish people had donated money and time to build a mosque Toronto. This Peace Mosque project will soon be aired as a TV series. TV Producer Kenny Hotz will highlight this daring project in his documentary to be showed on Showcase Television this Spring. This may be seen as another event in the now world famous annual Twinning of Mosques and Synagogues.

Mrs. Rahman was recognised during the event and I handed the Holy Quran, with a card of appreciation, to be kept by her and used during her tours to the schools, prisons, etc. The Muslims are overwhelmed by this token of solidarity and are thankful wherever they are for such is the tradition of Abraham.

*Habeeb Alli is a freelance writer for the Ambition, scholar on www.allexperts.com and author of twelve books on Islam.